LANSING -- The state of Michigan is taking Aramark to task for problems with prison food service, fining the company $200,000 and putting an independent overseer in place.

Gov. Rick Snyder announced the penalties Friday afternoon, saying the transition from state employees to Aramark "has seen errors on both sides of the relationship which are unacceptable and need to be corrected going forward."

More than 70 Aramark employees have been banned from the state's prisons over allegations including sexual misconduct involving inmates, failure to show up for work and being "overfamiliar" with inmates.

Michigan Department of Corrections spokesman Russ Marlan said Friday that the sanitation problems were not Aramark's fault.

"Although Aramark is responsible for its share of problems, they are not responsible for every issue that has been raised in recent months," Marlan said. "We investigated recent allegations connecting Aramark’s services to inmate illnesses and pests. We determined none of these incidents were caused by Aramark."

John Hanner, president of Aramark Correctional Services, thanked the Michigan Department of Corrections for its investigation into the incidents.

"We greatly appreciate that the MDOC investigated all recent allegations connecting Aramark to inmate illnesses and pests and determined that none of these incidents were caused by our company,” Hanner said in a statement.

"We also appreciate the recognition by the state that there have been errors made on both sides,” Hanner said. “We fully acknowledge that our performance has not always been perfect and are committed to continuing to improve."

The decision announced by Snyder today will create an independent monitor not employed by either Aramark or the corrections department to keep tabs on how the company is performing under its contract.

Aramark is also required to redesign its training program and staffing to meet state guidelines, Snyder said.

"Aramark has provided services successfully to hundreds of correctional facilities across the country for nearly 40 years. I fully expect the DOC and Aramark to work in close partnership to ensure the same success here in Michigan," Snyder said.

Opponents of the Aramark contract, including Democrats in the state legislature and the MCO-SEIU, the union representing corrections officers, had called on Snyder to terminate the contract entirely, saying that Aramark posed a threat to prison safety and security.

Grieshaber said the $200,000 fine was not a substantial punishment when compared to the overall contract, and that the contract is still a threat to the safety of the state's prisons and surrounding communities.